Here We Go Again

“It’s all Trump’s fault”! Leftists instantly reach for the “Hate-Trump Card” as a knee-jerk reaction to virtually every “crisis.”

Do you remember Democrats and the seedier media blaming Robert (“F**k Trump”) De Niro for the shooting and attempted assassination of president Ronald Reagan?

I don’t.

A certified mental case shot at the president because, as the mental case explained, he wanted to impress and protect Jodie Foster. In the movie Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro portrays a violent mental case, a character named Travis Bickle, who protects a 12-year-old prostitute (Foster) and tries to assassinate a United States Senator who was running for president.

So the real mental case, obsessed not only with protecting and impressing Foster’s fictional character, but also wanting to be the fictional Bickle in real life, shot at President Reagan to murder him, emulating De Niro’s character.

So, I ask again…

…Do you remember Democrats and the seedier media blaming Robert (“F**k Trump”) De Niro for the shooting and attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan?

I don’t.

I don’t remember Democrats blaming left-wing politics for two crazy leftist women in San Francisco, each trying to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford. There was Nut Job Number 1, Sarah Jane Moore, who’d been divorced five times before entering revolutionary politics and was a fan of the Symbionese Liberation Army, the kidnappers of Patty Hearst. And there was Nut Job Number 2, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson.

Do you remember the Left blaming their side of the political spectrum for these two mental cases?

I don’t either.

I don’t remember Democrats blaming Bernie Sanders for the dirtbag – and outspoken Bernie Sanders supporter – who fired randomly at Republican House members at a baseball practice and severely wounded Republican Congressman Steve Scalise and others in Washington, D.C.

Do you?

I don’t.

There actually is a demonstrable link between Robert De Niro and the shooting of Ronald Reagan. Between Castro, Cuba, and Communism, and the murder of President Kennedy. Between Left incitement and the attempts on President Ford’s life. Between the Saudis, their Wahhabi Islam, and the almost 3,000 murders of 9/11.

But, the darlings of political correctness get lifetime passes from the despicably biased media.

Can’t blame De Niro!

And now, a dirtbag with a demented mind, that actually led him to post on Facebook his hatred of President Trump the “globalist” – shoots at worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue, and the Left media, the Democrats, and their hand-picked anti-Trump stooges get trotted out to blame President Trump.

And we could lay some blame at the doorstep of ACLU and other “social justice” warriors who helped change U.S. laws to prevent authorities from institutionalizing mentally ill and deranged crazies. A vast majority of these shootings were performed by people who before the 1970s would’ve been locked away somewhere.

When It All Changed

The day that Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family were hounded out of that Virginia restaurant was the day the seeds were planted for a new era of violence in American politics.

Sanders was physically hounded, and the restaurateur endorsed the despicable act. In subsequent weeks, Ted Cruz’s party was physically confronted at a restaurant. So were Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao. Pam Bondi, attorney general of the State of Florida, was hounded and harassed at a movie. 

Republican United State Senators have been confronted physically in the hallways of Capitol Hill to the degree they’ve needed armed security escorts.

These despicable acts have been the fruits of Maxine Waters publicly urging her followers to harass Trump supporters at restaurants, gas stations, and other public venues.

Similarly, Cory Booker has urged his backers to get into opponents’ faces. Hillary Clinton, without blinking, urged incivility until her side can discover a way to win another election.

When Maxine Waters tells people to harass opponents at restaurants and gas stations, she thinks only her Antifa fascist friends are listening. 

But, so are the crazies on the other side of the aisle. “What a great idea,” they say. Here’s the problem: In a nation of 318 million (legal) citizens, there are lots and lots of people who are not normal. And when crazy people are presented – daily – with prominently disseminated calls for kicking opponents, getting into opponents’ faces, harassing and stalking opponents at gas stations, restaurants, and movie theaters,well, a few of those crazies are bound to act up.

And, soon, some maniac from Florida, who should’ve been institutionalized long ago, is mailing Maxine a bunch of pipe bombs.

The Democrats and the Left have been in rabid “Resistance.” Never before in American history have so many celebrities spoken so blithely and publicly about blowing up the White House (Madonna), kicking opponents (Eric Holder), symbolically cutting off a president’s head (Kathy Griffin), symbolically stabbing him to death (Shakespeare in the Park), urging incivility (Hillary Clinton), and in fact driving people out of restaurants, gas stations, and movie theaters (Maxine Waters).

I could go on and add movies such as Oliver Stone’s bloody Natural Born Killers, in which the director celebrates, sympathizes with, and glorifies a young couple (portrayed by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis) who go on a killing spree, murdering 52 innocent people before finally being stopped.

But I won’t.

After all, Oliver Stone, Robert De Niro, Woody Harrelson, and the rest of his peace-loving crowd are against “violence,” aren’t they?

David S. McCalmont
Santa Barbara

An Artistic Thanks

Deepest gratitude for the timely and thorough information you published in your last issue about the Mesa Artists Studio Tour in “This Week in and around Montecito.”

As businesspersons in the arts and local residents, we understand and appreciate the value of your community service to us. Your recognition supports our efforts to be assets to our town and the arts community here.

Many thanks.

Morgan Green
Santa Barbara

The Oprah Effect

Women with little prior interest in politics sensing that some hard-won civil rights were being compromised are running for office. They are bright and articulate, and many grew up in homes listening to Oprah Winfrey on television learning to ask better questions and to dialog with others they might not agree with. They are there in growing numbers, believing that they could do better running governments and understanding how they impact the world with their words. 

They gathered in numbers with old and young knowing that they will not be provoked to violence. It is not a woman’s way. And they will teach their children, and maybe future generations will learn to live on this planet without consuming it or destroying each other. 

Thank you, Oprah, for encouraging generations of women to find their voice.

Karen Friedman
Carpinteria

Prize-Winning Art

The Montecito Beautification Day poster contest theme this year was “Better Together, Keeping Montecito Beautiful.” We at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School are proud to note that the first-place winner was fifth-grader Ben Zoltoski and that the second-place winner was fourth-grader Addisyn Galvez.

So, thank you for printing their photos, as the kids (and their proud art teacher) go gaga when they are in the Montecito Journal! 

Jennifer Buur
Art specialist
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

Cool Clear Water

The following is something I wrote many years ago and recently updated:

The 1991 State Water and Desal Plant fiascos.

On April 6, 1991, I flew Bellanca N74492 over lakes Cachuma, Gibraltar, and Jameson to see what the March Miracle had done for the drought-stricken south coast. I had read, but was nonetheless astonished, to see both Gibraltar and Jameson lakes spilling, and Lake Cachuma approaching half-full and filling fast.

Prior to the March Miracle, several desperate approaches to solve the water crisis were being discussed in the media and by public officials, including towing in icebergs. Unfortunately, even though both Gibraltar and Jameson had added over 10,000 acre feet of water (total capacity c 20,000 AF), and Cachuma had added an additional tens of thousands of acre feet of water to the supply, no one in authority seemed capable of reassessing the situation.

They continued to discuss building a desalinization system for Santa Barbara and importing state water for the south coast. Neither of these projects would be capable of producing the amount of water recently added by rainfall for several years, yet no one in authority stopped to reassess, reconsider, or re-educate the public. Hence, the costly project went forward after the leaderless and clueless people voted for them in the special election of June 1991. The desal plant cost $34 million to build and $500,000 per year to maintain and was never needed. Santa Barbarians are still paying off the bonds.

At the time, I was farming avocados in Toro Canyon; having no one but myself to answer to, I was accustomed to making split-second decisions and reassessing on a daily basis.

Not so our government.

A November 2, 2018, update suggests the original desal plant could optimistically produce 10,000 AF/year and SWP offered SBA 3,000 AF and Montecito 3,000AF. Best case scenario: 16,000 AF/year with projects, while the March Miracle likely added three times, or more, that amount of water in 1991.

I am not casting blame at any particular organization or politician, other than no one stepped up to point out to the public that perhaps there was no need for these projects, given the March rains and replenishment of the reservoirs. As a rancher, I sure wouldn’t have drilled a new well when existing wells were rising to adequate levels.

Down the road, such projects might be necessary, but meanwhile, bank the money. Technology was improving and ideas could have been more well thought-out.

Steve King
Carpinteria

Here is the Place

As I write this, midterm election results are unknown. However they turn out, I suggest that, regardless of political affiliation, we absolutely insist that our representatives start behaving like mature adults and put the nation’s overall welfare ahead of the present blind adherence to political party loyalty.

Carpinterians have probably observed the liberal-leaning, sign-carrying group that has occupied a corner at Linden and Carpinteria avenues on Friday afternoons. As a conservative, I’ve made a point to walk among them and talk with sign-holders. They are nice people. We’ve discussed our political differences in civil fashion. I’ve been tempted to stand on a stepladder behind them with a sign reading “I don’t agree with these views, but I respect the rights of those Here to peacefully display them.”   

My nutshell summary: HERE isn’t perfect and never will be. Those suffering in other countries struggle to come HERE. Celebrities who have threatened to leave HERE when things haven’t gone their way are still HERE. It is HERE where we have freedom of speech and, with individual effort and initiative, are provided numerous opportunities to better ourselves. HERE is where we have the opportunity to choose our leaders. HERE is where the concept of federalism allows states to establish differing laws for residents. HERE is where you can freely leave if you desire to do so. It is HERE where we, a young country, have a wonderful though far-from-perfect history. It is HERE where we should cease attempting to erase portions of our history. It is HERE where we can freely learn from past mistakes. HERE is where we can, and should, insist that our elected representatives behave decently and responsibly to set good examples for our children.

Finally, it is HERE where you have the right to disagree with me.

Sanderson M. Smith, Ed.D.
Retired mathematics teacher
(Cate School, Santa Barbara City College)
Carpinteria

I was Just Thinking…

Since only 11 million people have ObamaCare, how will 24 million people die if it is repealed? Will an additional 13 million people be randomly shot?

If Donald Trump deleted all of his emails, wiped his server with Bleachbit, and destroyed all of his phones with a hammer, would the mainstream media suddenly lose all interest in the story and declare him innocent?

If women do the same job for less money, why do companies hire men to do the same job for more money?

If you rob a bank in a Sanctuary City, is it illegal or is it just an undocumented withdrawal?

Each ISIS attack now is a reaction to Trump policies, but all ISIS attacks during Obama’s term were due to climate change and a plea for jobs.

If Muslims want to run away from a Muslim country, does that mean they’re Islamophobic?

If Liberals don’t believe in biological gender, then why did they march for women’s rights?

How did the Russians get Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC to steal the primary from Bernie Sanders? How did Russia get Donna Brazile to leak debate questions to Hillary Clinton in advance of the debates?

Why is it that Democrats think super delegates are fine, but they have a problem with the Electoral College?

If Hillary’s speeches cost $250,000 an hour, how come no one shows up to her free ones?

The DNC is mad at Russia because they “think” they were trying to manipulate our election by exposing that the DNC was manipulating our election.

If Democrats don’t want foreigners involved in our elections, why do they think it’s all right for illegals to vote?

We should stop calling welfare, food stamps, WIC, ad nausea, “entitlements.” They are not entitlements. They are taxpayer-funded handouts. Social Security and Veterans Benefits are entitlements because the people receiving them are entitled to them. They were earned and paid for by the recipients.

Just thinking…

Monica Bond
Santa Barbara